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The Philippines requires a multifaceted strategy for enhancing media and information literacy (MIL), aimed at cultivating well-informed and critical-thinking Filipinos, media magnate Manuel V. Pangilinan remarked on Tuesday, amidst the escalating menace of disinformation in the nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo begin with, we need the government to advocate for MIL as a central policy priority, incorporating it into national security, education, and technology,\u201d MediaQuest Chairman Pangilinan stated in his address at the Philippine MIL Conference (MILCon) 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext, we need the corporate sector, not solely media establishments, but all businesses to weave MIL into their corporate social responsibility initiatives,\u201d he continued, emphasizing the necessity to invest in training, resources, and environments that equip employees with MIL skills.<\/p>\n
Educational institutions must also take responsibility in shaping learners who can \u201cquestion boldly and ponder meticulously\u201d to remind society that freedom of expression carries responsibilities, Mr. Pangilinan asserted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe commonly discuss nation-building in terms of bridges, skyscrapers, fiber optics, power facilities, steel, and iron. However, the true foundation of democracy is none of these \u2014 it is truth,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cMisguided individuals cannot progress, yet those who are informed cannot be conquered,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
By promoting \u201ctruth in media\u201d through initiatives such as MILCon, he aspires to enable Filipinos to become more discerning about the media outlets they trust and the content they engage with. \u201cIn the end, it will be the media consumer who will likely fuel this quest for truth in anything you read, watch, or observe,\u201d he mentioned to reporters on the sidelines of the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must be discerning about what you can accept as true. This will serve as a guide for your academic journey or business profession,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
Social media has surfaced as a key source of information for individuals worldwide, stated UNESCO Jakarta Director Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaily, people view over a billion hours of content on YouTube, and nearly 3 billion frequent Facebook, often as their main information resource about the world,\u201d she conveyed at the same event. \u201cOn a global scale, 20% of those aged 18 to 24 rely on TikTok as their primary news outlet,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
In the Philippines, a report from the Reuters Institute indicated that 66% of participants utilize social media for news weekly. The study highlighted that Facebook remains a \u2018vital\u2019 channel for news in the nation, while younger demographics and creators depend on TikTok.<\/p>\n
NOT JUST TROLLS<\/strong> The MediaQuest executive highlighted that the recent functional literacy report from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reflects the status of MIL in the country.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout robust literacy and comprehension abilities, these youths are extremely susceptible to misinformation, manipulation, and the inability to engage critically with what they encounter both online and offline.\u201d<\/p>\n Functionally illiterate Filipinos have surged to 24.8 million over the last 30 years, according to an EDCOM 2 report.<\/p>\n The commission indicated that the rise in functional illiteracy is partly due to the Department of Education\u2019s (DepEd) engagement in numerous interagency bodies, which has diverted focus from fundamental education.<\/p>\n Mr. Pangilinan also expressed his apprehensions regarding the widening literacy divide and cautioned against corruption that could further exacerbate the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a grave concern, and cutting the funding for education and reallocating it elsewhere while taking resources from many to benefit the few will not solve it,\u201d he said during a panel discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cThe allure to take shortcuts is exceptionally strong. Particularly if you want to achieve a certain level of affluence in your life,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\nMediaQuest CEO and Cignal President Jane Jimenez-Basas remarked that the considerable number of Filipinos sourcing news from social media emphasizes the need for MIL. \u201cThe adversary has transformed; it is no longer merely confronting trolls in comment sections,\u201d she mentioned during her address. \u201cIt is contending with the highly advanced threats of synthetic media, deep fakes, and algorithmic biases that can skew political results and erode trust in mere moments.\u201d<\/p>\n